The life and times of a motoring and motor rallying journalist in Scotland

Thursday, 3 September 2015

Rally - RallyFuture

The MSA has today published its latest report on progress being
made towards compliance with the requirements of the Motor Sports Safety Review
Group. They’ve also come up with a new name and a new logo under which progress
across a number of organisational and spectatorial issues are being addressed
and implemented.

What it doesn’t do is detail the immense amount of additional work
being undertaken by amateur rally organisers right across the country who are
endeavouring to comply with the new rules and trying to cope with the increased
workload.

And as the sport approaches the end of the first year of this ‘new
regime’ there are still many folk out there who think the future of rallying is
safe and that it will all blow over next year. Nae chance!

If you simply read the contents of the MSA report it doesn’t sound
as though much has changed or much needs to change, but behind the scenes there
has been huge turmoil at club and regional association level right across the
country.

It’s not just a question of implementing these new rules, they
will have to continue next year - and be seen to be continuing. The
Scottish Government has been intrinsically involved at all stages of the
process this year and will continue to oversee progress next year to assure
themselves that the sport has taken note and is working towards full
compliance.

If the sport gets a Report Card from the teacher this year, then
it should get a nice big ‘Tick’ in the box, but if standards slip next
year it will be a big ‘X’, and that will signal the end of multi-venue rallying
in this country as we know it.

The vast majority of spectators have also been heeding the new
rules, but clubs can’t afford to let standards slip next year. A culture change
is required in how folk attend and watch rallies. They might not like it, but
most of them understand why it is being done and progress is encouraging.

Their support continues to be essential just as clubs need more
manpower and rallying needs more marshals.